In what was largely a rebuilding year for Escalon tennis, there was some excitement in the postseason.

First year head coach Jack Berry said the team did struggle overall in the Trans-Valley League. There were some individual match wins for players but the team as a whole did not post many victories during the course of the campaign.

In the second season, however, Escalon’s number two girls singles player, Mikayla Schut, battled her way to the Section meet. Schut, who was not seeded going into the TVL tournament, got on a roll and put some wins on the books. One of the satisfying victories came in the semifinals, winning there by a 6-1, 5-7, 6-3 decision.

“In the TVL finals, she did lose to Hughson in straight sets,” Berry explained.

The second place league finish, however, qualified Schut to move on to the Section Individual Meet.

She traveled to Oak Park in Stockton and took on an El Dorado opponent in the first round, falling by scores of 6-3, 6-1.

Berry, who said his dad served as his assistant coach, noted that the team worked hard throughout the course of the season and he is eager to coach again. With the year of experience and some solid players returning, he is optimistic that next season will be a better one for the Cougars on the court.